When preparing for an interview, it is important to have a list of your accomplishments ready to go as the interviewer may ask, “what is your greatest accomplishment?” question. Choosing an achievement relevant to the job you are applying for is important, showcasing your skills and abilities. This article will discuss how to answer this question and provide examples of good responses.
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Understanding Greatest Accomplishment
Your greatest accomplishment reflects your values, goals, and aspirations. It’s something you’re proud of and shows what you’re capable of. When asked about your greatest accomplishment in an interview, take the opportunity to share a story that highlights your skills, work ethic, and determination.
Why do companies ask this interview question?
Companies want to ask this question to get an idea of your work ethic and see if you are a good fit for the company. This question lets you show off your skills and highlight your best qualities, allowing them to see how you view and define success. It also shows that you are prepared for the interview and have thought about your accomplishments in advance.
How to Answer “What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?”
Your greatest accomplishment uniquely reflects your skills, abilities, and drive. When interviewers ask this question, they want to get a sense of what you are capable of and how you have performed in the past.
To answer this question effectively, you need to consider what you have done that has positively impacted your career or life. Once you have identified your accomplishment, you need to articulate why it was significant and how it benefited you or others.
For example, if you are a recent graduate, your greatest accomplishment may be landing your first job. This accomplishment requires you to test your skills and abilities and demonstrate your potential to employers.
If you are a more experienced professional, your greatest accomplishment may be a project or initiative you spearheaded that resulted in positive changes for your company or department. Regardless of your particular accomplishment, highlight how it has made you a better professional or person and how it can benefit the employer who hires you.
Other Resources
Top Common Interview Questions and Answers
Examples of Accomplishment
Some of the accomplishments you may choose to discuss include:
- Overcoming a challenge at work.
- Scholarships you have won.
- Improving processes or procedures at your job.
- Donating your time or talents to a worthy cause.
- Achieving a personal goal.
- Making a difference in your community.
- Leading a team or project.
- Winning an award or recognition.
- Developing a new skill or expertise.
Regardless of your answer, be sure to back it up with specific examples and details. Doing so will give the interviewer a better sense of who you are and your capabilities.
What are three accomplishments?
Answer 1
1. Graduating from college
2. Landing a job in your desired field
3. Earning a promotion at work
Answer 2
1. Increased sales by 25% in the past year.
2. Received a promotion and increased sales by an additional 10%.
3. Won a regional award for highest sales growth.
Answer 3
- I’m an engineer by profession. I have worked on a few notable projects that have made it to the market.
- One of my works is an android app released in the Google Play Store.
- Recently, I completed a project for a major oil and gas company.
Example Answers to “What is your greatest accomplishment?”
STAR Based Example Answer 1
Situation: “My recent greatest accomplishment was In my previous job, I was part of a team tasked with increasing web traffic to our company’s website.”
Task: “I was able to increase web traffic to our company’s website by 20% within the first month.”
Action: “I did this by optimizing our website for search engines and creating engaging content that would encourage people to visit our site. I also implemented a social media strategy that helped us reach a wider audience.”
Result: “Not only did I increase web traffic to our company’s website, but I also helped us achieve our goal of becoming the number one provider of XYZ products in North America.”
Example Answer 2
So far, my greatest accomplishment has been graduating from college. It was a long and hard road, but I’m so glad I could walk across that stage and receive my diploma. That moment was made even sweeter because I knew my parents were cheering me on, along with the rest of my family and friends.
But graduation is just the beginning. I know that I have so much more to accomplish in life. I want to continue learning and bettering myself so that one day I can say that I truly made a difference in this world. That motivates me to keep going, even when the going gets tough. There will be many more successes and failures along the way, but as long as I keep my eye on the prize, I know I’ll be fine.
Example Answer 3
My greatest accomplishment so far has been developing a new skill set that has helped me contribute to my team in a more impactful way. When I started my job, I focused mostly on administrative tasks. But over time, I took it upon myself to learn more about the software we use and how it can be utilized to achieve our team’s goals.
I then created a series of tutorials that helped my team members understand the software and how to use it effectively. As a result, our team became more productive and efficient, reflected in our project results.
Conclusion
Answering the question about your greatest accomplishment can be tricky in an interview. You don’t want to boast, but you also want to make it clear that you’re a high achiever. The key is to focus on an accomplishment relevant to the job you’re interviewing for. This could be something from your professional life or even your personal life if it’s something that has helped you develop useful skills. Whatever you choose to talk about, emphasize what you learned from the experience and how it makes you a better candidate for the job.